See main article: List of ministers under Margaret Thatcher.
| Incumbent: | 1979–1983 |
| Government Head Title: | Prime Minister |
| Government Head: | Margaret Thatcher |
| Government Head History: | 1979–1990 |
| State Head Title: | Monarch |
| State Head: | Elizabeth II |
| Total Number: | 213 appointments |
| Political Party: | Conservative Party |
| Legislature Term: | 48th UK Parliament |
| Opposition Party: | Labour Party |
| Election: | 1979 general election |
| Last Election: | 1983 general election |
| Previous: | Callaghan ministry |
| Successor: | Second Thatcher ministry |
| Jurisdiction: | United Kingdom |
Margaret Thatcher was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 4 May 1979 to 28 November 1990, during which time she led a Conservative majority government. She was the first woman to hold that office. During her premiership, Thatcher moved to liberalise the British economy through deregulation, privatisation, and the promotion of entrepreneurialism.
This article details the first Thatcher ministry which she led at the invitation of Queen Elizabeth II from 1979 to 1983.
Following the vote of no confidence against the Labour government and prime minister James Callaghan on 28 March 1979, a general election was called for 3 May 1979. The Winter of Discontent had seen the Labour government's popularity slump during the previous four months, and the opinion polls all pointed towards a Conservative victory.
The Conservatives won the election with a majority of 44 seats and their leader Margaret Thatcher became the United Kingdom's first female prime minister.
Thatcher inherited some of the worst economic statistics of postwar Britain. The nation was still feeling the effects of the numerous strikes during the recent Winter of Discontent. Inflation had recently topped twenty per cent, and unemployment was in excess of 1.5 million for the first time since the 1930s.
Thatcher's monetarist and deflationary economic policies saw a cut in the inflation rate from a high of 22 per cent in May 1980 to just over 13 per cent by January 1981, and by June 1983 it had fallen to a 15-year low of 4.9 per cent.
Decreasing the public sector borrowing requirement as a share of GDP was a part of the medium term financial strategy at the beginning of the first Thatcher ministry. It was brought down from around five per cent during the 1978–1979 period to around half of this figure during the 1982–1983 period.
Public expenditure as a share of GDP increased at around 1.5 per cent per year during the 1979–1983 period, despite the target being a reduction of one per cent, per year. This increase in spending was mostly driven by larger expenditures in social security programs such as unemployment benefits, industrial support, and increased lending to nationalized industries; defense spending did not go up considerably during the Falklands War.
Long-term unemployment increased considerably during this period: almost one third of the unemployed had been without a job for more than one year. The manufacturing industry was considerably affected during the first Thatcher government: employment in this sector decreased by almost 20 per cent between 1979 and 1982. This decrease drove almost all of the drop in employment for this period.
Productivity started seeing considerable growth during the 1979–1982 period in some industries. Total factor productivity growth during these years was 13.9 per cent in the metal manufacture industry, 6.6 per cent in motor vehicle manufacture, 7.1 per cent in ship and aircraft manufacture, and 7.5 per cent in agriculture.
Income distribution widened considerably during Thatcher's ministry. During the 1979–1986 period, real income per capita fell for the two lower quintiles by four and 12 per cent respectively; but for the top three quintiles, it went up by 24, 11, and 10 per cent, respectively.
Thatcher also oversaw union reforms which saw strikes at their lowest for thirty years by 1983. However, her economic policies also resulted in the loss of much of Britain's heavy industry. Coal pits, steel plants, machine-tools and shipyards were particularly hard hit, most of all in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the north of England. By 1983, unemployment had reached 3.2 million, although economic growth was now re-established following the recession of 1980 and 1981.
The Labour opposition, which changed leader from James Callaghan to Michael Foot in 1980, was in no position to exploit the situation and mount a threat to the Conservative government's power. The change of leader saw the party shift dramatically to the left, and in 1981 a host of disenchanted Labour MPs formed the breakaway Social Democratic Party. The new party swiftly formed an alliance with the Liberals with a view to forming a coalition government at the next election. Roy Jenkins, leader of the SDP, worked in conjunction with Liberal leader David Steel with the goal of forming a coalition government at the next general election. For a while, opinion polls suggested that this could happen, with support for the Alliance peaking at 50 per cent in late 1981, with both the Tories and Labour faring dismally.
However, when the Falkland Islands (a British dependent territory in the South Atlantic) were seized by Argentine forces in March 1982, Thatcher was swift to mount a military response. The subsequent ten-week Falklands War concluded with a British victory on 14 June when the Argentines surrendered. The success of this military campaign saw a rapid turnaround in voter sentiment, with the Tory government firmly in the lead in all major opinion polls by the summer of 1982. A Conservative victory at the next election appeared inevitable, although it appeared far from clear whether it would be Labour or the Alliance who formed the next opposition.
Thatcher had the option of waiting until May 1984 before calling a general election, but the opinion polls remained in her favour as 1983 dawned; she called a general election for 9 June. With all the pollsters pointing towards a Conservative majority, the most interesting outcome of the election was the guessing game as to whether it would be Labour or the Alliance who formed the next opposition.
In the event, the Conservatives were re-elected with a 144-seat majority. The election was an unmitigated disaster for Labour, who polled a mere 27.6 per cent of the vote and were left with just 209 MPs in the new parliament. The Alliance came close to Labour in terms of votes with 25.4 per cent of the electorate voting for them, but won a mere 23 seats.
In September 1981, a substantial reshuffle took place.
Members of the Cabinet are in bold face.
| Office | Name | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Margaret Thatcher | 4 May 1979 | ||
| Deputy Prime Minister | Viscount Whitelaw | 4 May 1979 | also Home Secretary |
| Minister of State for the Civil Service Department | Paul Channon | 7 May 1979 – 5 January 1981 | |
| Barney Hayhoe | 5 January 1981 – 12 November 1981 | ||
| Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain | The Lord Hailsham of St Marylebone | 5 May 1979 | |
| Leader of the House of Commons | Norman St John Stevas | 5 May 1979 | also Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster |
| Francis Pym | 6 January 1981 | also Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster January - September 1981, Lord President of the Council from September 1981 - April 1982 | |
| John Biffen | 5 April 1982 | also Lord President of the Council | |
| Leader of the House of Lords | The Lord Soames | 5 May 1979 | also Lord President of the Council |
| The Baroness Young | 14 September 1981 | also Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster from September 1981 - April 1982, Lord Privy Seal from April 1982 | |
| Lord President of the Council | The Lord Soames | 5 May 1979 | also Leader of the House of Lords |
| Francis Pym | 14 September 1981 | also Leader of the House of Commons | |
| John Biffen | 5 April 1982 | also Leader of the House of Commons | |
| Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal | Sir Ian Gilmour, Bt | 5 May 1979 | |
| Humphrey Atkins | 14 September 1981 | ||
| The Baroness Young | 6 April 1982 | also Leader of the House of Lords | |
| Chancellor of the Exchequer | Sir Geoffrey Howe | 5 May 1979 | |
| Chief Secretary to the Treasury | John Biffen | 5 May 1979 | |
| Leon Brittan | 5 January 1981 | ||
| Minister of State for Treasury | Peter Rees | 6 May 1979 – 14 September 1981 | |
| The Lord Cockfield | 6 May 1979 – 6 April 1982 | ||
| Jock Bruce-Gardyne | 15 September 1981 – 11 November 1981 | ||
| Barney Hayhoe | 11 November 1981 | ||
| John Wakeham | 6 April 1982 | ||
| Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury | Michael Jopling | 5 May 1979 | |
| Financial Secretary to the Treasury | Nigel Lawson | 6 May 1979 | |
| Hon. Nicholas Ridley | 30 September 1981 | ||
| Economic Secretary to the Treasury | Jock Bruce-Gardyne | 11 November 1981 | |
| Lords Commissioners of the Treasury | John MacGregor | 7 May 1979 – 5 January 1981 | |
| Hon. Peter Morrison | 7 May 1979 – 5 January 1981 | ||
| Lord James Douglas-Hamilton | 7 May 1979 – 1 October 1981 | ||
| Carol Mather | 7 May 1979 – 1 October 1981 | ||
| David Waddington | 16 May 1979 – 5 January 1981 | ||
| John Wakeham | 9 January 1981 – 15 September 1981 | ||
| Hon. Robert Boscawen | 9 January 1981 – 17 February 1983 | ||
| John Cope | 9 January 1981 – 13 June 1983 | ||
| Tony Newton | 1 October 1981 – 5 March 1982 | ||
| John Gummer | 1 October 1981 – 6 January 1983 | ||
| Hon. Peter Brooke | 1 October 1981 – 13 June 1983 | ||
| Alastair Goodlad | 16 February 1982 | ||
| Donald Thompson | 14 January 1983 | ||
| David Hunt | 23 February 1983 | ||
| Assistant Whips | May 1979 -January 1981 | ||
| John Cope | May 1979 - January 1981 | ||
| Tony Newton | May 1979 - September 1981 | ||
| John Wakeham | May 1979 - January 1981 | ||
| Hon. Peter Brooke | May 1979 - September 1981 | ||
| John Gummer | January 1981 - September 1981 | ||
| Alastair Goodlad | January 1981 - February 1982 | ||
| Donald Thompson | January 1981 - January 1983 | ||
| Nicholas Budgen | September 1981 - May 1982 | ||
| David Hunt | September 1981 - February 1983 | ||
| Ian Lang | September 1981 - June 1983 | ||
| Tristan Garel-Jones | March 1982 - June 1983 | ||
| Hon. Archie Hamilton | May 1982 - October 1984 | ||
| John Major | January 1983 - June 1983 | ||
| Douglas Hogg | February 1983 - June 1983 | ||
| Foreign Secretary | The Lord Carrington | 5 May 1979 | |
| Francis Pym | 5 April 1982 | ||
| Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | Peter Blaker | 5 May 1979 – 29 May 1981 | |
| Hon. Nicholas Ridley | 6 May 1979 – 29 September 1981 | ||
| Hon. Douglas Hurd | 6 May 1979 – 11 June 1983 | Minister of State for Europe | |
| Richard Luce | 30 September 1981 – 5 April 1982 | ||
| Cranley Onslow | 5 April 1982 – 13 June 1983 | ||
| The Lord Belstead | 5 April 1982 – 13 June 1983 | ||
| Timothy Raison | 6 January 1983 | also Minister of Overseas Development | |
| Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | Richard Luce | 6 May 1979 | |
| The Lord Trefgarne | 14 September 1981 | ||
| Malcolm Rifkind | 6 April 1982 | ||
| Minister for Overseas Development | Neil Marten | 6 May 1979 | |
| Timothy Raison | 6 January 1983 | ||
| Home Secretary | William Whitelaw | 5 May 1979 | also Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party |
| Minister of State for Home Affairs | Leon Brittan | 6 May 1979 – 5 January 1981 | |
| Timothy Raison | 6 May 1979 – 6 January 1983 | Minister of State for Immigration | |
| Patrick Mayhew | 5 January 1981 – 13 June 1983 | ||
| David Waddington | 6 January 1983 | Minister of State for Immigration | |
| Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Home Affairs | The Lord Belstead | 7 May 1979 – 6 April 1982 | |
| The Lord Elton | 6 April 1982 – 13 June 1983 | ||
| David Mellor | 6 January 1983 | ||
| Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food | Peter Walker | 5 May 1979 | |
| Minister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food | The Earl Ferrers | 7 May 1979 – 13 June 1983 | |
| Alick Buchanan-Smith | 7 May 1979 – 13 June 1983 | ||
| Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food | Jerry Wiggin | 7 May 1979 – 29 September 1981 | |
| Peggy Fenner | 14 September 1981 – 13 June 1983 | ||
| Minister for the Arts | Norman St John-Stevas | 5 May 1979 | also Leader of the House of Commons |
| Paul Channon | 5 January 1981 | ||
| Secretary of State for Defence | Francis Pym | 5 May 1979 | |
| John Nott | 5 January 1981 | ||
| Michael Heseltine | 8 January 1983 | ||
| Minister of State for Defence | The Lord Strathcona and Mount Royal | 6 May 1979 – 5 January 1981 | |
| The Viscount Trenchard | 5 January 1981 – 29 May 1981 | Office abolished 29 May 1981; Trenchard appointed Minister of State for Defence Procurement | |
| Minister of State for the Armed Forces | Peter Blaker | 29 May 1981 | |
| Minister of State for Defence Procurement | The Viscount Trenchard | 29 May 1981 | |
| Geoffrey Pattie | 6 January 1983 | ||
| Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Army | Barney Hayhoe | 6 May 1979 – 5 January 1981 | |
| Philip Goodhart | 5 January 1981 – 19 May 1981 | Office abolished 29 May 1981; Goodhart appointed Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces | |
| Under-Secretary of State for the Navy | Keith Speed | 6 May 1979 – 18 May 1981 | Office abolished 29 May 1981 |
| Under-Secretary of State for the Air Force | Geoffrey Pattie | 6 May 1979 – 29 May 1981 | Office abolished 29 May 1981; Pattie appointed Under-Secretary of State for Defence Procurement |
| Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces | Philip Goodhart | 29 May 1981 – 30 September 1981 | |
| Jerry Wiggin | 15 September 1981 – 11 June 1983 | ||
| Under-Secretary of State for Defence Procurement | Geoffrey Pattie | 29 May 1981 – 6 January 1983 | |
| Ian Stewart | 6 January 1983 | ||
| Secretary of State for Education | Mark Carlisle | 5 May 1979 | |
| Sir Keith Joseph | 14 September 1981 | ||
| Minister of State, Education and Science | The Baroness Young | 7 May 1979 – 14 September 1981 | |
| Paul Channon | 5 January 1981 – 13 June 1983 | ||
| Under-Secretary of State, Education and Science | Rhodes Boyson | 7 May 1979 – 13 June 1983 | |
| Neil Macfarlane | 7 May 1979 – 15 September 1981 | ||
| Bill Shelton | 15 September 1981 – 13 June 1983 | ||
| Hon. William Waldegrave | 15 September 1981 – 13 June 1983 | ||
| Secretary of State for Employment | James Prior | 5 May 1979 | |
| Norman Tebbit | 14 September 1981 | ||
| Minister of State, Employment | The Earl of Gowrie | 7 May 1979 – 15 September 1981 | |
| Michael Alison | 15 September 1981 – 13 June 1983 | ||
| Under-Secretary of State, Employment | Jim Lester | 7 May 1979 – 5 January 1981 | |
| Patrick Mayhew | 7 May 1979 – 5 January 1981 | ||
| David Waddington | 5 January 1981 – 6 January 1983 | ||
| Hon. Peter Morrison | 5 January 1981 – 13 June 1983 | ||
| John Gummer | 6 January 1983 | ||
| Secretary of State for Energy | David Howell | 5 May 1979 | |
| Nigel Lawson | 14 September 1981 | ||
| Minister of State, Energy | Hamish Gray | 7 May 1979 – 13 June 1983 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Energy | Norman Lamont | 7 May 1979 – 5 September 1981 | |
| John Moore | 7 May 1979 – 13 June 1983 | ||
| David Mellor | 15 September 1981 – 6 January 1983 | ||
| The Earl of Avon | 6 January 1983 | ||
| Secretary of State for the Environment | Michael Heseltine | 5 May 1979 | |
| Tom King | 6 January 1983 | ||
| Minister of State for Local Government | Tom King | 6 May 1979 | |
| The Lord Bellwin | 6 January 1983 | ||
| Minister of State for Housing | John Stanley | 7 May 1979 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Sport | Hector Monro | 7 May 1979 – 30 September 1981 | |
| Neil Macfarlane | 15 September 1981 | ||
| Under-Secretary of State, Environment | Marcus Fox | 7 May 1979 – 5 January 1981 | |
| Geoffrey Finsberg | 7 May 1979 – 15 September 1981 | ||
| The Lord Bellwin | 7 May 1979 – 6 January 1983 | ||
| Giles Shaw | 5 January 1981 – 13 June 1983 | ||
| Sir George Young, Bt | 15 September 1981 | ||
| Secretary of State for Social Services | Patrick Jenkin | 5 May 1979 | |
| Norman Fowler | 14 September 1981 | ||
| Minister of State, Health | Gerard Vaughan | 7 May 1979 | |
| Kenneth Clarke | 5 March 1982 | ||
| Under-Secretary of State, Health and Social Security | Sir George Young, Bt | 7 May 1979 – 15 September 1981 | |
| Lynda Chalker | 7 May 1979 – 5 March 1982 | ||
| Geoffrey Finsberg | 15 September 1981 – 14 June 1983 | ||
| The Lord Elton | 15 September 1981 – 6 April 1982 | ||
| Tony Newton | 5 March 1982 | ||
| The Lord Trefgarne | 6 April 1982 – 14 June 1983 | ||
| Minister of State for Social Security | Reginald Prentice | 7 May 1979 – 5 January 1981 | |
| Hugh Rossi | 5 January 1981 – 12 June 1983 | ||
| Secretary of State for Industry | Sir Keith Joseph, Bt | 7 May 1979 | |
| Patrick Jenkin | 14 September 1981 | Merged with the Office of Trade 12 June 1983 | |
| Minister of State, Industry | Hon. Adam Butler | 6 May 1979 – 5 January 1981 | |
| The Viscount Trenchard | 6 May 1979 – 5 January 1981 | ||
| Norman Tebbit | 5 January 1981 – 14 September 1981 | ||
| Norman Lamont | 14 September 1981 – 12 June 1983 | ||
| Minister of State, Industry and Information Technology | Kenneth Baker | 5 January 1981 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Industry | David Mitchell | 6 May 1979 – 5 January 1981 | |
| Michael Marshall | 6 May 1979 – 15 September 1981 | ||
| John MacGregor | 5 January 1981 – 12 June 1983 | ||
| John Wakeham | 15 September 1981 – 6 April 1982 | ||
| John Butcher | 6 April 1982 – 12 June 1983 | ||
| Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster | Norman St John-Stevas | 5 May 1979 | also Leader of the House of Commons |
| Francis Pym | 5 January 1981 | also Leader of the House of Commons | |
| The Baroness Young | 14 September 1981 | also Leader of the House of Lords | |
| Cecil Parkinson | 6 April 1982 | ||
| Secretary of State for Northern Ireland | Humphrey Atkins | 5 May 1979 | |
| James Prior | 14 September 1981 | ||
| Minister of State, Northern Ireland | Michael Alison | 7 May 1979 – 15 September 1981 | |
| Hugh Rossi | 7 May 1979 – 5 January 1981 | ||
| Hon. Adam Butler | 5 January 1981 – 10 June 1983 | ||
| The Earl of Gowrie | 15 September 1981 – 10 June 1983 | ||
| Under-Secretary of State, Northern Ireland | The Lord Elton | 7 May 1979 – 15 September 1981 | |
| Philip Goodhart | 7 May 1979 – 5 January 1981 | ||
| Giles Shaw | 7 May 1979 – 5 January 1981 | ||
| David Mitchell | 5 January 1981 – 13 June 1983 | ||
| John Patten | 5 January 1981 – 13 June 1983 | ||
| Nicholas Scott | 15 September 1981 – June 1983 | ||
| Paymaster General | Angus Maude | 5 May 1979 | |
| Francis Pym | 5 January 1981 | ||
| Cecil Parkinson | 14 September 1981 | ||
| Secretary of State for Scotland | Hon. George Younger | 5 May 1979 | |
| Minister of State for Scotland | The Earl of Mansfield | 7 May 1979 – 13 June 1983 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Scotland | Alexander Fletcher | 7 May 1979 – 14 June 1983 | |
| Russell Fairgrieve | 7 May 1979 – 15 September 1981 | ||
| Malcolm Rifkind | 7 May 1979 – 6 April 1982 | ||
| Allan Stewart | 15 September 1981 – June 1983 | ||
| John MacKay | 6 April 1982 – June 1983 | ||
| Secretary of State for Trade | John Nott | 5 May 1979 | |
| John Biffen | 5 January 1981 | ||
| The Lord Cockfield | 6 April 1982 | ||
| Minister of State for Consumer Affairs | Sally Oppenheim-Barnes | 5 May 1979 | |
| Gerard Vaughan | 5 March 1982 | ||
| Minister for Trade | Cecil Parkinson | 7 May 1979 | |
| Peter Rees | 14 September 1981 | ||
| Under-Secretary of State for Trade | Norman Tebbit | 5 May 1979 – 5 January 1981 | |
| Reginald Eyre | 7 May 1979 – 5 March 1982 | ||
| The Lord Trefgarne | 5 January 1981 – 15 September 1981 | ||
| Iain Sproat | 15 September 1981 – 12 June 1983 | ||
| Minister of Transport | Norman Fowler | 11 May 1979 – 5 January 1981 | became Secretary of State for Transport |
| Secretary of State for Transport | Norman Fowler | 5 January 1981 | |
| David Howell | 14 September 1981 | ||
| Parliamentary Secretary for Transport | Kenneth Clarke | 7 May 1979 – 5 January 1981 | became Under-Secretary of State for Transport |
| Under-Secretary of State for Transport | Kenneth Clarke | 5 January 1981 – 5 March 1982 | |
| Lynda Chalker | 5 March 1982 – June 1983 | ||
| Reginald Eyre | 5 March 1982 – 11 June 1983 | ||
| Secretary of State for Wales | Nicholas Edwards | 5 May 1979 | |
| Minister of State for Wales | John Stradling Thomas | 17 February 1983 – June 1983 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Wales | Michael Roberts | 7 May 1979 – 10 February 1983 | |
| Wyn Roberts | 7 May 1979 – June 1983 | ||
| Attorney General | Michael Havers | 5 May 1979 | |
| Solicitor General | Sir Ian Percival | 5 May 1979 | |
| Lord Advocate | The Lord Mackay of Clashfern | 5 May 1979 | |
| Solicitor General for Scotland | Nicholas Fairbairn | 7 May 1979 | |
| Peter Fraser | 28 January 1982 | ||
| Treasurer of the Household | John Stradling Thomas | 6 May 1979 | |
| Hon. Anthony Berry | 17 February 1983 | ||
| Comptroller of the Household | Spencer Le Marchant | 7 May 1979 | |
| Hon. Anthony Berry | 30 September 1981 | ||
| Carol Mather | 17 February 1983 | ||
| Vice-Chamberlain of the Household | Hon. Anthony Berry | 7 May 1979 | |
| Carol Mather | 30 September 1981 | ||
| Hon. Robert Boscawen | 17 February 1983 | ||
| The Lord Denham | 6 May 1979 | ||
| The Lord Sandys | 6 May 1979 | ||
| The Earl of Swinton | 20 October 1982 | ||
| The Viscount Long | 9 May 1979 – June 1983 | ||
| The Lord Mowbray and Stourton | 9 May 1979 – 22 September 1980 | ||
| The Lord Lyell | 9 May 1979 – June 1983 | ||
| The Lord Cullen of Ashbourne | 9 May 1979 – 27 May 1982 | ||
| The Lord Trefgarne | 9 May 1979 – 5 January 1981 | ||
| The Earl of Avon | 22 September 1980 – 6 January 1983 | ||
| The Lord Skelmersdale | 9 January 1981 – June 1983 | ||
| The Lord Glenarthur | 27 May 1982 – 10 June 1983 | ||
| The Lord Lucas of Chilworth | 6 January 1983 – June 1983 |